On the light side

Went out to check bees after all the tornadoes went through! It was still warm, 62. Hives were ok but noticed that one hive had bees take flight and go into the one next to it with no problem. Never seen them leave. Are they robbing? Thought I would check weight. Both are light. This week the high will be low 50's. I have been feeding these 2 hives with syrup but read 50 degrees is too cold for them to take heavy syrup. Should I get candy boards on them? Whats better, candy boards or fondant?

crazy,
hard to answer your question without some details, like iddee, i would be inclined to combine. if you have two light hives, and bees from one hive are going to the other unchallenged, they might just be looking for better 'digs'. light hives are hard to sustain, especially if they are weak in numbers, and not just stores. if so, nothing will sustain them, and they will die out.

as far as the feeding, i wouldn't be so concerned about the temp of 50 degrees for them to take down the syrup...... i would be more concerned about the moisture later feeding of syrup could create in a hive. if i had to feed a hive past syrup feeding, and i am right now, (late swarm hive that's been kicking my butt) i would choose and prefer a fondant or a winter patty set right on top the frames for my area. why? bees are clustered, they need feed set right on top and across the frames right over their cluster.....the feed is right over and above them, a candy board has a barrier.

my weather and climate is different than yours, so maybe a candyboard would work for you at this point, but if the hives are really light and they are weak hives, nothing will sustain them crazy, so as iddee said, you might consider combining two weak hives to one and feed a fondant or a winter patty directly on top the frames.

you can also use a dry sugar method......oh i don't want to post that for all the replies, but it does work to feed bees.......:grin:....:lol:

it is good practice lazy, but place the fondant on wax paper, and then place it on top the frames. i prefer to use fondant this way over a candy board. actually, i started using the winter patties sold by different bee suppliers, rather than fondant.

I found a place here in town to buy fondant. 50 lb. for $48. :shock: I didn't have wax paper so I used parchment paper. Seems to be closely the same. Weighed out 1 pound flattened and added a tablespoon of MegaBee. Now waiting for the weather to warm up a bit before I add to the hive. Been in the 20's! Ouch!